By his own admission the past week has been "traumatic" for former ALP leader Simon Crean, who fell on his political sword after losing support from key Labor Party colleagues.

But with the pressure off, he has been to the tennis, taken in some Test cricket and watched swashbuckler Russell Crowe strut his leadership material in the film Master and Commander.

After Christmas, Mr Crean and his wife, Carol, will brace the tropical heat of North Queensland in summer with a trip to the Daintree.

"I know it's the wrong time of year, but I haven't been there and in this job you don't get to choose the time," he reflected in the backyard of his modest Middle Park home yesterday.

Mr Crean looked relaxed in slacks and a short-sleeved, open-neck shirt as he faced his first media scrum since he resigned last week after two years as ALP leader.

Asked if his resignation as leader and reappointment as shadow treasurer had parallels with Victoria's Treasurer John Brumby, who lost the leadership to Steve Bracks, Mr Crean laughed loudly. "I'm not John Brumby, I'm Simon Crean."

Slipping easily into his old Treasury role, Mr Crean accused Treasurer Peter Costello of leading the highest-taxing regime in Australian history.

Mr Crean conceded he had mulled over what role he wanted to play in a reshuffled ALP led by Mark Latham. "I talked with Mark over the weekend and we canvassed a range of options," Mr Crean said. "He was very keen for me to take Treasury . . . I wanted a key portfolio. I want to be part of the team which wins the next election."

He would not say what other options he had put to Mr Latham, but said: "Last week was a pretty traumatic week."